Campaign for safe motherhood in India
Almost a quarter of the world’s maternal deaths occur in India and some states have alarmingly high rates, reveals a new report released this week in the national capital. A people-led campaign found that quality healthcare was essential for bringing down the number of deaths.
New Delhi: About 100,000 deaths occur annually in India from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. In Orissa, the maternal mortality rate (MMR) is about 303 while the national average is 254, states a new report released by ‘Deliver Now for Women and Children’ campaign.
- From left: Dr Aparajita Gogoi, Lori Mc Dougall, Dr Bulbul Sood, Dr Nabin Kumar Pati, Ashok Sahu and Devika Behel/ Photo credit: OWSA
Members from the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood (WRAI) and Partnership of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) had launched a national campaign last year on April 11, with special focus on Orissa.
Maternal mortality rates and child deaths are a growing concern in the world today, more so in developing countries, where the situation is quite appalling. National coordinator of WRAI, Aparajita Gogoi said: “Putting policy into action is a challenge. Much greater effort is needed to generate support for the UN Millennium Development Goals to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health by 2015.”
The project focussed on 12 high-need districts in Orissa. Checklists developed on the basis of existing entitlements under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and minimum health service delivery standards were used in the focussed areas to systematically track the implementation of policies and programmes.
The survey found that only 40% of the fund provided under NRHM were utilised; blood banks were non-functional; out of the 24 First Referral Units, only 14 were active; 52% of the auxiliary nurse midwives had no weighing machines; and many were administering life saving drugs and performing obstetric first aid in the absence of gynaecologists.
Public Hearing
“The objectives of the campaign were to create a demand for healthcare at all levels, make the village women aware of their rights, inform people and create more space for action,” said Gogoi.
Public hearings in 12 districts of Orrisa were organised which were attended by thousands of women, she informed.
The report cites the experience of a local woman: “Because of the provider’s bad behaviour, rural women do not want to come to a hospital. When a woman is pregnant and delivering in pain and fear, she should be treated well. I am not talking about just myself but speaking on behalf of all women.”
About the success of these public hearings, Ms Lori Mc Dougall from PMNCH said: “It was truly encouraging to see how firmly the women articulated their needs. It was equally heartening to observe the responses from government. This shows that face to face interactions are the only way to produce effective results.”
They stressed on the need for more action from political leaders to meet the health needs of women. She added.
- Dr Aparajita Gogoi/ Photo credit: OWSA
Media involvement played a crucial role in empowering women during the campaign. In all, 75 articles in print media and 34 electronic references were made.
Devika Bahl, who handled media campaign, shared that the support received from NRHM helped to take the messages across to the people. “In 21 weeks we ran good number of ads in electronic media. Even the NRHM had provided extra airtimes during the Rath Yatra,” she added.
Quality healthcare needed
Talking of the roadblocks in securing good health and rights of women, Dr N.K. Pati, co-chairman of WRAI said: “Bringing people to a facility alone will not help in reducing maternal mortality. The situation has not changed. Earlier women were dying at home; now they are dying in institutions.”
“One of the significant aspects of the campaign was that all stakeholders jointly supported the cause. Commitment was seen more from the district and block levels than at the national level. However, much needs to be done in the case of registration of birth and deaths, which could give a clearer picture.”
Dr Bulbul Sood of WRAI highlighting the success of the campaign suggested that other states should also imbibe the lessons learnt from Orissa.
With only six years left for achieving the MDGs, there is a need for proper utilisation of resources, reiterated Gogoi.
